 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: susannah
Date: 2001-11-28 07:52
I was just wondering what exactly makes a piece so obviously come from a specific period. Fo example, we could tell straight away that the Mozart concerto is classical, the Weber concertos a little later and the Stravinsky thee pieces twentieth century. I can only think of harmony and rhythm as distinguishing characteristics but I'm sure there are more and that these can be more specifically explained.
Thanks
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-11-28 13:32
This is a great question, thought-provoking and refreshingly honest. Someone named Charles Rosen (first-rate pianist/teacher) has written two books, one on "The Classical Style" and another on "The Romantic Style" (or "Generation" or "Era," not sure of the exact title). I look forward to following the responses to this thread. --Bill.
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Author: sarah
Date: 2001-11-28 15:33
I haven't taken classical and romantic music history yet, but in my early history text book it goes into much detail of the differences between renaissance and baroque. I have a book for a music appreciation class that lists out characteristics for different styles, but iI can't remember the name right now.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-11-28 16:57
The books mentioned above by Charles Rosen are both scholarly and detailed in their approach to the different eras. Also, check out the writings of Alfred Einstein and H.C. Robbins Landon - 2 very important names in music history.
There are numerous fine music history texts, with chapter upon chapter devoted to this subject. Grout, Friedrich Blume, and of course the old standby - Ulrich and Pisk.
This is not easily answered in a few short paragraphs, as your ears should always guide you in the differences. There were, however, some major philosophical differences in the period which you should be aware of:
The Classical style (in music) is best summarized as having balance, proportion, and restraint. The dismissal of these ideas by Romantic era composers lead to their hallmarks which briefly can be called "restless seeking" and "impulsive reaction."
VERY BRIEFLY - 3 major musical differences include:
1. Harmony and key - whereas Classical composers had reserved the minor key for specific expressive passages, Romantic composers searched for new tonal possibilities, and exploited minor keys (eg:Beethoven- c minor, which became the "tragic" key) Also, the use of "distant" key signatures - F# minor, Ab major,(Chopin and Schubert) etc..
2. Chromaticism - this forced the supporting harmony to change
3. Orchestration - the 45 member Classical orchestra inherently grew as new instruments were developed and incorporated - bass clarinet, English horn, contra bassoon, Wagnerian tuba, etc...
Again, this is just a small, thumbnail sketch (hardly doing justice to the major differences) but it is a good starting point for you to explore on your own...GBK
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2001-11-29 04:54
As GBK hints, this is complex enough that it is a 2 semester college course. A trip through GROVES can be useful, looking up both the articles on the periods, and on the composers in which you are interested. (Groves is in the reference room of most decent size libraries.) A chronology of the periods can be useful, but be aware that many composers wrote in the style of periods outside of their chronology.
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